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Group walks across state in memory of a friend

A group who walked across Florida were greeted with hugs and applause Monday as they crossed A1A. The walkers trekked in memory of Grant Lockenbach, a DeLand resident who died in a caving accident in 2011 and to raise funds for the Young Life Christian fellowship in DeLand.

News-Journal/MARK I. JOHNSON

MARK I. JOHNSONSTAFF WRITER

Published: Monday, February 18, 2013 at 4:17 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, February 18, 2013 at 8:49 p.m.

"They call me Cold Turkey," said Francisco Cubero as he lay collapsed on the sand at the Granada Avenue beach approach in Ormond Beach Monday afternoon.

The 23-year-old Gainesville resident was one of 29 people who cooled their tired feet in the Atlantic Ocean after completing the 116.4-mile, four-day, Grant Lockenbach Memorial Walk Across Florida.

"They call me that because I did it without any training," Cubero said, explaining his alias.

Cubero, like his fellow walkers, suffered through tender toes and aching arches in memory of Grant Lockenbach, a 20-year-old DeLand resident and University of Florida junior who died in a caving accident two years ago.

"Grant believed in me and helped me while I was going through a rough patch," Cubero said. "Now I am doing things I never thought I would do, like getting my master's degree in social work, completing a half-marathon and walking across the state."

Forty-eight-year old Winter Garden resident Nancy Barber also walked the width of the state from Yankeetown to Ormond Beach.

"This is just the great, crazy, ridiculous adventure that Grant would have loved," said the Stetson University lecturer. "It was his idea to start with; he just did not get the chance to do it."

According to group spokesman David Joseph, 28, the third "Grant Lockenbach Memorial Walk Across Florida" originated from a spur of the moment challenge Lockenbach made to some friends a month before he died while spelunking in some caves in Georgia.

"He was always up for something that pushed you," the DeLand resident said.

This year's walk took participants across the peninsula along State Road 40 to raise money for Young Life, a Christian outreach program for DeLand middle and high school students.

"We collected almost $15,000," Joseph said.

Looking back on the journey, Cubero said he almost gave in to the fatigue and pain on day three, but he thought of Lockenbach and was inspired to make it through.

<p>"They call me Cold Turkey," said Francisco Cubero as he lay collapsed on the sand at the Granada Avenue beach approach in Ormond Beach Monday afternoon. </p><p>The 23-year-old Gainesville resident was one of 29 people who cooled their tired feet in the Atlantic Ocean after completing the 116.4-mile, four-day, Grant Lockenbach Memorial Walk Across Florida. </p><p>"They call me that because I did it without any training," Cubero said, explaining his alias. </p><p>Cubero, like his fellow walkers, suffered through tender toes and aching arches in memory of Grant Lockenbach, a 20-year-old DeLand resident and University of Florida junior who died in a caving accident two years ago. </p><p>"Grant believed in me and helped me while I was going through a rough patch," Cubero said. "Now I am doing things I never thought I would do, like getting my master's degree in social work, completing a half-marathon and walking across the state." </p><p>Forty-eight-year old Winter Garden resident Nancy Barber also walked the width of the state from Yankeetown to Ormond Beach. </p><p>"This is just the great, crazy, ridiculous adventure that Grant would have loved," said the Stetson University lecturer. "It was his idea to start with; he just did not get the chance to do it." </p><p>According to group spokesman David Joseph, 28, the third "Grant Lockenbach Memorial Walk Across Florida" originated from a spur of the moment challenge Lockenbach made to some friends a month before he died while spelunking in some caves in Georgia. </p><p>"He was always up for something that pushed you," the DeLand resident said. </p><p>This year's walk took participants across the peninsula along State Road 40 to raise money for Young Life, a Christian outreach program for DeLand middle and high school students. </p><p>"We collected almost $15,000," Joseph said. </p><p>Looking back on the journey, Cubero said he almost gave in to the fatigue and pain on day three, but he thought of Lockenbach and was inspired to make it through. </p><p>"That was my Mount Everest," he said.</p>